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heck out these great gift ideas for the outdoor enthusiast on your holiday gift list. These local merchants are available to ensure your holiday gift giving satisfaction. We always try to encourage our readers to shop locally. It’s our community and we all benefit from supporting our local businesses. They’re here for us all year long and our personal convenience depends on their sustainability. Tell them Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine sent you. By the way, if you see something here that you wish could be under the tree with your name on it, just take out a marker and circle it. Then leave this page open for your friends and family to see. Yes, crude but effective. Happy Holidays from all of us at Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine.
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Michigan Hard Water
WEST MICHIGAN REPORTS & EVENTS
INSIDE
Spring Break Planning
Catch Photos Fishing Reports - Rivers & Streams - Hard Water FLORIDA GULF COAST
FISHING CHARTERS & GUIDES
+ PLUS Expert advice from the area's top guides and charter boat captains
+PLUS
Local Fishing Reports Catch Photos Tournaments & Events
Photo courtesy of Capt. Jeff Bacon Michigan Fly Fishing Ventures
WWW.THEANGLERMAG.COM/WESTM WWW.THEANGLERMAG.COM/WESTM WWW.THEANGLERMAG.COM/WESTMICHIGAN For editorial comments, articles, photography, advertising, and all other inquiries please contact: The Angler Magazine West Michigan (616) 957-1714 • westmichigan@theanglermagazine.com • www.theanglermag.com/westmichigan
hing c t a c s ' o h W fish?
Ben lands a nice Pere Marquette River steelhead on a streamer. Michigan A client of Sport Fish m the fro co displays a nice cis Grand Traverse Bay.
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Jerry with a pig of a smallmouth from Grand Traverse Ba out with Sport Fish Mic y while higan.
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George lands a colored up male steelhead on the Muskegon River while out with Capt. Jeff Bacon.
Send your Fish Tale photos to: westmichigan@theanglermagazine.com Don't forget to include your name and the details of your catch.
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FLY of MONTH
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inter is settling in. The water temperature has dropped. The egg bite has tapered off and the hatches have long since been a thing of the past. The trout and the steelhead however, are still in the river and very available! Baitfish patterns, sculpins, and gobies are all on the menu. Swinging flies with a two handed rod or stripping steamers is a great way to target these fish. This pattern can be stripped, swung or dead drifted to fit that bill. Now layer up, wader up, get to the river and put a bend in the rod! Place the 20mm shank in the vice and start your thread. Wrap back on the shank to close the gap in the rear portion. Cut a section of intruder wire approx 2.5 inches long and tie to the shank with the loop off of the rear portion of the shank. Tie in the cactus chenille and wrap forward on the shank until just short of the eye. Tie in the Fish Finz on each side of the shank. Tie in the rabbit strip then the flash material on top. Apply gel super glue to the shank then push the sculpin helmet over the eye of the shank and allow the glue to dry. Restart your thread and build a thread dam to secure the helmet, then whip finish. Add the trout bead of your choice, loop the intruder wire through the eye of the hook and your ready to fish!
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choose to make the best of what Mother Nature has created. To make the best of these tough conditions one must look to maximize time on the water and fish in a productive fashion. We can do this by preparing our equipment. The constant issue that we face is cold air and water temperatures. How we deal with this REPORTS & FORECASTS Rivers Streams limiting factor will & determine our success. Looking at equipment first, most tackle designers never dream that someone is going to be using their rods and reels in sub 30 degree air temperatures. A common issue anglers experience is reels and lines freezing, along with ice buildup in guides. So how do we deal with this issue? To prevent freezing issues with reels, before your next winter trip, clean both your reel frame and spool completely. Remove any excess oil or grease from both, as well as any dirt. A little lubrication goes a long way with modern reels and : J EtoFsolidify, F H causing U B B aAbinding R D effect between your spool and any additional lubricant BwillY begin Outfitters North Guide Service frame, leading to freezing. Dirt and sand will trap moisture also causing premature freezing of (231)day, 898-6246 your reel. Upon finishing your angling bring your reels inside, remove the spool from the reel frame and allow both towww.outfittersnorth.com completely dry and warm. Â Another issue this time of the year is ice buildup in guides. There is no good way to stop this, but there are ways to negate it happening rapidly. Try placing fly floatant, cooking spray, or inter has arrived, but the cold doesn't stop the hard-core Vaseline on your guides to negate rapid ice buildup. WillMarquette these stop it River. completely? No, but they steelhead angler from fishing the Pere Steelhead will keep you in the game longer. Happiest of Holidays! anglers are a different breed of fisherman. You have to be a patient and
Pere Marquette
W
tough human being to adapt to cold river temps, ice and snow. Someday it can take a lot of casting before you get a bite, if you get a bite at all. The steelhead are there though and they're still eating. You can find them in slower and deeper winter lies, where they don't have to exert to much energy to eat. For the fly angler try a slower approach fishing an egg fly or nymph under a strike indicator, this works well in the winter months. Swinging big streamers also works well; these fish won't pass up a big easy meal if presented right. Fish this much slower using a weighted fly and heavier sink tip to slow you line speed down and sink the fly quicker. I prefer using an intermediate Skagit head this time of year, slows your presentation a lot that works well with the colder water. For an up to date report check out outfittersnorth.com and don't forget to like us on Facebook at Outfitters North.
H
peratures in the evenings and teens during the day. The Pere Marquette River temperature and water level are really starting to drop. We're starting to see shelf ice and anchor ice in some of the middle sections of the river system. As winter progresses look for steelhead fishing to slow down a bit. Instead of an allday bite you will start to get short windows of action throughout the day, usually in the afternoon as water temperatures start to warm. Nymphs will also start to be a key fly to use this time of year. When the water temperatures really start to drop steelhead and resident trout are looking for whatever they can get as far as an easy meal. Hex Nymphs, Stone Flies and small Hares Ear's or Pheasant Tails can start to produce. Eggs will also work well. Try small Clown Eggs and Nukes in more natural colors. For Swinging Flies try more natural colors too, with less flash as the water clears. Sculpins in olive or brown can Y : CCheck A Pout T .mySsite E AforNsomeMgo-to C D patterns, O N A Lwww.outfi D ttersnorth. produce in the Bwinter. com. Remember trout Beads areKatch not flies andCharters are illegal in the Flies Only Water. Me You can find fish throughout(231) the whole river system. The fish are now starting to 510-2072 use their winter runs and pools. Look for fi sh in much slower deeper runs with wood www.centurycircle.com structure to hide them. You can find this type of water in any stretch of the Pere Marquette, however because of the weather; access will become more difficult until spring. Play it safe at the boat ramps and while wading the river. Practice catch and release on wild Pere ny time you have in December, Marquette steelhead. If they don't get to spawn, we don't get to hook any in the future. if you are an ice fisherman, and Goodisluck andwater Happy you Holidays! there open might take a
Ludington
A
half of a day or so and go for a boat ride on your favorite lake. Take your GPS and mark the edges of weed beds. You will have an advantage over the rest of the fleet when the snow-covered ice will make weeds much tougher to find. Battery powered auger drills for the first half of winter is the way to go. You can quietly cut a hole in a few seconds and avoid some disruption from the fish and other fishermen on thinner ice. Try and drill your holes first in an area you pick to fish and wear ice cleats if they are really needed. Having holes set up before the bite happens is a simple solution with a battery-powered auger. Weeds are the key for first ice bluegills on local small lakes and bigger ones like Hamlin, Manistee and Portage. Shallow canals and bays often will hold good numbers of bluegill before the oxygen levels drop and they head to deeper water. Top baits for bluegill are 3mm tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms, spikes or plastics. Be safe on first ice and enjoy the easiest time to catch bluegills while it lasts.
FLY of THE MONTH Beaddazzled Stone
T
BY PHIL CUSEY
West Michigan Materials Waterfront &
his is a great winter stone fly Hunting Land FLY NAME: "Beadazzled Stone" imitation! The rubber leg Realtor tail provides greater movement HOOK: Tiemco 2457 - Sz.12- 8 in the water. Using beads for the HuntingTHREAD: Muskegon, Pere Marquette, Uni 6/0 Black body gives a wonderful segmentedWhite, and Little Manistee Rivers TAIL: Round rubber - Black - Small profile and the dubbed head traps plus many wonderful lakes BODY: Spirit River glass bead - Iridescent Plum air and hence releases "bubbles" HEAD: UV Dubbing- Peacock when fished. Be sure and adjust size; smaller for trout and larger View my listings at for steelhead. Enjoy the solitude of winter fishing!
(231) 510-2072
Sean McDonald
Homewaters.net
When Phil Cusey isn't guiding, he can be reached at streamertwo@sbcglobal.net.
JANUARY 2014
4 WEST MICHIGAN
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11/14/17 5:25 PM
Rivers & Streams
REPORTS & FORECASTS
Muskegon River
Grand River
B Y: C A P T. J E F F B A C O N
BY: G R E G K N A P P
Michigan Fly Fishing Ventures (616) 560-3195 www.westmichiganflyfishing.com
Getting Bit Guide Service 616-570-2946 www.gettingbitguideservice.com
T
he Grand River is a great fishery for steelhead during the month of December. Fish can be found throughout the whole river system and there is a good mix of fresh fish and fish that have been around since early fall. With the higher than average water flows that we have had all fall, there should be a good amount of the run above 6th street and in the tributaries. If you are looking for some good shore access try hitting the downtown Grand Rapids area or one of the tributaries that are open. The piers down in Grand Haven can also yields steelhead, browns, and whitefish this time of year if sitting back and soaking spawnbags is something you want to do.
T
he month of December may be the most significant "transition" fall/winter month of the season on the Muskegon River for both resident and migratory fish and fishing and fishing in general. The spawning salmon that came up in September, October and early November are long gone, but the residual effects of their spawning season are still evident. Both resident rainbow and brown trout, along with migratory steelhead and lake run brown trout will feed on the salmon eggs that get kicked up from spawning grounds, as well as small baitfish, mayfly, caddis and midge nymphs that are in the river, as the fish prepare for the colder months of the year. Fly fishing options include indicator nymphing, stripping/swinging streamers, as well as bottom bouncing - a.k.a. chuck & duck. Fly rods of choice for nymphing would be along the lines of 6 and seven weight rods, with floating line and, indicator and flies of choice. Streamer rods could range from 6 or 7 weight rods for casting-retrieving streamers, as well as 8-9 weight two-handed rods for spey casting if you're going to swing streamers. Chuck and duck setups would be with running/ shooting on 7 or 8 weight rods. Conventional tackle rigs would be either baitcaster or open face spinning reels, on matching rods for bottom bouncing or float fishing. Flies to have on hand include salmon egg imitations, as well as caddis and mayfly nymphs. For the conventional angler, fishing egg imitations as well as bait such as spawn bags will get you into fish. The last handful of years has found the month of December provides some of the better steelhead fishing of the fall and early winter season. With a reduction of traffic on the river and fish taking up their "typical" early winter lies, it's simply a matter of fishing very specific spots thoroughly and fishing many of them throughout the course of the day. Enjoy the holidays and get out on the river during "Santa" month... it's a great time of year to be fishing on the river, and the Muskegon River has plenty to offer!
Guided River Fishing www.WestMichiganFishingGuide.com
CAPTAIN JEFF BACON Phone: 616-560-3195 Email: jrbacon@ameritech.net 6 WEST MICHIGAN
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11/14/17 5:25 PM
W
Explore Cadillac - Spear Anglers Wait for Pike in Darkhouses
hen you think of ice fishing, most folks consider it from the traditional stance of standing on the ice or sitting inside fish shanties. Using tip-ups baited with minnows or jigging with ice rods. There are other options - Darkhouse fishing. Rather than hook fish, they're inside darkened shelters hoping to spear pike. Any lake with a good population of pike and water clarity of at least six to eight feet offers spearing possibilities. Spearing is a big deal in Cadillac. Steve Knaisel, owner of the Pilgrim Village Fishing Shop, gets over 100 signed up for his annual pike spearing contest, for over 15 years. His leader boards show that Darkhouse anglers take the larger pike with many in the 30 to 36 inch range. Inside a spearing shanty or Darkhouse, what catches your eye is the giant rectangular hole, often about 28 or 30 inches by 36 inches, which takes up most of the floor space. In contrast to the dark interior of the shanty, the hole is lit up as if illuminated from an underwater source, typically the sun shining through the ice. To help see fish swimming beneath, a layer of potato slices or egg shells is spread over the lake bottom so the dark fish will standout against the light background. Once the hole is ready, the waiting begins. Sitting by the edge of the hole, the angler watches for a pike to appear. Many find it soothing to look down at the quiet lake bottom. To entice these fish into showing themselves, plastic or wooden decoys are used. The decoy is weighted and balanced so it will swim level. When the line is pulled, the decoy minnow glides about in smooth arcs. The attractors should be suspended several feet off the bottom so they can easily be seen by cruising pike. Spear anglers will tell you that it's that moment when a pike slides into view that makes the waiting worthwhile. Although adrenalin may be surging, moves need to be slow and deliberate as the spear is lowered into the water so that when it's dropped there won't be a splash. The sweet spot is just behind the eyes where the back is widest. Hit the pike there and it should stay on the tines as it is hauled into the shanty. While catch and release allows fish to be returned live, there's no spear and release. To avoid the chance of killing an undersized pike, most spear fishermen give themselves a margin of error on the 24 inch minimum size by not taking fish under 26 or 28 inches. If spearing sounds intriguing, come to Cadillac and get ahold of Steve, or contact the Michigan Darkhouse Anglers Association website. The Mitchell State Park Carl T Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center in Cadillac offers workshops with how-to information for getting stated in spearing and decoy carving. Written for the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau by Dave Foley, Outdoor Writer/ Enthusiasts.
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DECEMBER 2017
WEST MICHIGAN 7
11/14/17 5:25 PM
Hard Water
REPORTS & FORECASTS
Northwest Area
Grand Rapids
B Y: C A P T. B E N W O L F E
A
Sport Fish Michigan (877) 442-4294 www.sportfishmichigan.com
s late fall gives way to early winter, there are a lot of things that we are excited about at Sport Fish Michigan. For river anglers, late fall/early winter steelheading can be a tremendous time to be on the water. The crowds are low, and the fish often bite several different presentations extremely well. For traditional gear anglers, spawn bags can really ignite a bite during the chilly, dark days as the scent from salmon eggs can get fish into a feeding mode. Beads presented under a float or indicator can also pay huge dividends, as smaller presentations can often be the ticket if fish are fussy. Brown trout in river systems will often prefer these smaller bead presentations when fished along holding waters and seams in the river currents. As the waters cool, fish are less apt to move far to take baits, and thoroughly working a run or hole can be crucial to finding where the fish are holding. Fly anglers fishing streamer or egg patterns can do very well this time of year as fish are still looking for a pre-winter meal. Open waters still have some excellent fishing opportunities during this pre-ice period, and anglers willing to brave the cold can be rewarded with some outstanding catches. Yellow perch both on Grand Traverse Bays and area inland lakes are heavily feeding, and having a variety of baits can be the difference in getting bites from the jumbos and just catching the smaller biters. Perch can switch from one offering to another more easily than we would like, but having everything from minnows to wigglers to small pieces of shrimp and even small jigging spoons can be crucial in figuring out what the jumbos are willing to bite on. Pulling out the ice fishing equipment this time of year for a preice inspection is often much more comfortable now than looking over shanties and running augers when the temperatures are bone-chilling, and the snow is flying. Charging electronics batteries to ensure that they will hold a charge is another good thing to check when taking stock of the ice equipment. Before our boats are winterized and put away for the season, one thing that we at Sport Fish Michigan like to do is to transfer GPS waypoints that we may have from our Humminbird electronics to our Humminbird ice electronics. Waypoints that we find during the warmer months can often produce big for us through the ice, and transferring these now is just one of the things that we try to do as we prepare for our guide season. Late fall and early winter fishing can be exceptionally rewarding and fun. Get out, have fun on the water, and most of all, stay safe!
8 WEST MICHIGAN
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BY: C H A S T H O M P S O N
T
MI Ice Guys www.MiIceGuys.com (616) 953-0423
hey have promised us a real winter this year. Lake Michigan water temp is dropping, lots of acorns, and I bought a new flasher. It is that time of the year to get your equipment ready. Make sure the flasher battery has a charge. If you've not charged it since March when the ice left, you may need to invest in a new battery. Change the line on the rods, brittle or braided line can break when stressed by an early ice gill. Setup the shelter in the garage and make sure the mice have not nested in it. Fresh gas to start the power auger. A trip to the bait shop to see what they have new this season, maybe even attend an Ice Seminar. If we are lucky, we might get some walk-able ice just before Christmas. We will be checking boat ramps on the small lakes, measuring skim ice. The small lakes north of GR, will be our December targets. You know that one of the ice groups on Facebook will have one of the guys sneaking out and getting a small mess of fish. You know that those early ice gills are awesome. And yes we will drive an hour to check ice, with a truck load of equipment that we won’t need until January. Text messages, evenings in the forums, posting on the ice map ( MiIceGuys.com/report-ice) will be the passion of anglers all around West Michigan. Guys that have no use for smart phones or computers all year will be addicted to every photo and fish tale posted. That first ice is dangerous. Spud your way out slowly until you are sure of the ice. Safety ropes, picks, PFD’s, or even a new floating ice suit and some dry clothes. Hypothermia is the real danger if you do get wet. I have fleece pants, baggy t-shirt, and a hooded sweatshirt and slip on shoes that I can change into to drive back home, if I do get wet. Then get in the truck and get home, that day is done. And probably the most important “Never Go Alone”. It is not enough to just tell someone where you are going; they will never be able to help you like a partner can. Make sure you spend a few minutes reviewing safety with those young anglers too. They need to stay with an adult, especially on early ice. If you get out on safe ice, head for those mid-depth weed beds you found in the fall. The fish are still feeding like there was no ice. The weeds generate oxygen; small organisms feed on the algae and plankton around the weeds, small bugs feed on them, and is the food source for the fish you are targeting. Walk and fish carefully if you find hard water; take along a partner you will have a better time even if nothing goes wrong. And don’t be shy about putting a few of those new toys on Santa’s list, a list on the fridge might give the family a clue and get something you are actually excited about.
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11/14/17 5:25 PM
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DECEMBER 2017
WEST MICHIGAN 9
11/14/17 5:25 PM
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Hitting Rock Bottom Does your lure makes noise? If not, just whack the lake’s bottom. BY: MA R K MA RT I N
What grabs your attention more than noise? Not a lot. The same holds true for fish. In fact, no matter the species, fish rely on the very sounds forage makes to help them zone in on their next meal. Now let’s talk ice fishing. With this sport, you are extremely limited in the areas you’re able to fish within a waterway; only the spots directly below the holes you drill, to be exact. To get the attention of any fish that may be nearby your lure has to make a lot of racket. As you know, there are lures of all many makes and models hanging on the pegged walls of your favorite bait-and-tackle shop. Some are manufactured with noise-making devices built within them; some are boisterous in shape alone, while other share a little of both. And all assert they attract fish from afar. But sometimes it takes more than just the ordinary wiggle and jiggle of one of these lures to get a fish to bite. Often, it’s how aggressively you fish, and, where in the water column your lure is that will trip the triggers that make fish strike. Sometimes, however, you have to hit rock bottom. Literally. On the softer side Early on in the day, before getting loud with my lures, I’m careful to be the opposite of noisy. Instead, I try to be as stealthy as can be. Before the crack of dawn, I crank up my ultra-quiet StrikeMaster Honda 35cc Lite and
drill as many holes as I can muster. This way I’m sure to have at least punched one hole over structure before the bite starts. The Honda 35CC Lite with a 10inch cut only weighs 26 pounds, yet, has a lot of torque and thrust behind it. Couple its lightness, and power, with the ultra-sharpness and shape of StrikeMaster’s blades and I’m able to drill holes quickly, efficiently and quietly. This allows time for the environment to settle down under me well before the sun rises up over the horizon. To increase the efficiency of walking on ice, as well my own safety, I use ice cleats on the soles of my boots; all the while keeping my footsteps as quiet as can be. Although the traction on the sole of most boots is excellent, the added grip of spikes of any easy-on/ easy-off traction aid allows me to be the most proficient I can be. Especially on smooth, slick icy surface. And cleats with short spikes are much quieter than the large fang-like spears found on some ice walking aids. Now, rather than later As quickly as possible, I’ll walk hole to hole and check for depth and to see if there are any fish below me with my Lowrance Hook-5 Ice Machine - a portable sonar and GPS, made with the avid ice angler in mind. What I am looking for besides fish (obviously) is hard bottom areas of any kind; especially those adjacent to a drop off or a hump. These areas are easy to find as hard bottom shows up as a thin, brightly-colored line on the color readout. And, of course, I can figure out which way the bottom falls off by paying attention to the depth of each hole. But with an SD card filled with Navionics mapping in the unit’s card reader, the process is a no-brainer. Once hard bottom is found on sonar, I can confirm what, exactly, it’s made up of via my MarCum Recon 5 Plus Underwater Viewing system – a compact underwater camera with 5-inch waterproof hi-resolution, 800 x 480-pixel color screen. With my MarCum, I can see firsthand the composition of the lake’s bottom. And what I’m often looking for, especially in dingy water, or, when the bite’s been off and the fish are known to be lethargic, is rocks, be it gravel or large boulders. The reason? Simple, really. I’m looking for rock bottom so I can bang my lure off the hard
surface every so often. A real attention-getter to fish that aren’t right under me. In fact, the banging of a lure on rocks can be so loud that, from within the confines of my Clam portable shanty, I can actually hear the lure smacking the surface. This especially holds true when I’m using line with very little or no stretch. And that’s one of many reasons I use 12-pound-test Berkley FireLine, which I use as my main line, and then a 1-foot leader of Berkley 10-poundtest Fluorocarbon line. I connect the two via a small Berkley Ball-Bearing Swivel. And when ice fishing, I always connect my lure to the fluorocarbon by a Berkley Cross-Loc Snap, rather than a snap swivel, as the latter adds too much hardware and bulk to the rig. Banging on bottom works well with all my favorite lures whether they are metal jigging spoons or hard-bodied baits. Personally, I like Northland’s UV Macho Minnow - Kickin— painted in six different ultra-violet hues, including glow-in-the-dark. It’s a heavy lure and raps well against a hard bottom. And speaking of rapping, Rapala’s Jigging Shad Raps and Jigging Raps work wonders for creating chaos on hard bottoms, as well. So, when’s the right time for whacking rocks with your bait? I like to thump bottom every few minutes until a fish is either spotted on my Lowrance or on the MarCum, and then fish it as I normally would off bottom. But tapping hard bottom works well when a hole’s gone dry and the fish have left the area, as well, or when I get a strike but the fish missed the lure. In the case of a missed strike, I’ll drop the lure to bottom immediately and rap it on bottom quite a few times, then lift it up and let it set for a few seconds; most of the time, fish will either hit it as the lure flounders on bottom, or, as it sits motionless. Rock rapper Drawing attention to your lure is often as easy as hitting a rocky bottom with it. But remember to be stealthy in your approach, and then let your lure be the loud device. Drill lots of holes quickly, check for depth and bottom composite, then fish. If the fish leave or you get a strike but miss, drop your lure to bottom and let it knock the bottom. The strike that occurs next might just rock your world. Mark Martin is a professional walleye tournament angler and instructor with the Ice-Fishing Fishing Vacation/Schools (fishingvacationschool.com), who lives in the southwest corner of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Check out his website at markmartins.net for more information
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367_WM_12.indd 11
DECEMBER 2017
WEST MICHIGAN 11
11/14/17 5:25 PM
Church Tackle Co. WE DIDN’T INVENT THE PLANER BOARD, WE JUST PERFECTED IT!
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This clip may be mini but when it comes to holding power it’s second Hole for drop weights only to it’s big brother, the original Lock-Jaw! Holds mono, super or other applications braids, power pro, lead core or copper lines without damaging the line! The Mini Lock-Jaw fits The Walleye Board, TX-44, TX-22, TX-12 & TX-6 Replaceable planer boards, but we recommend the full size Lock-Jaw for the TX-44. Pad The Mini Lock-Jaw is designed to fit other side planers, drop weights and Locator holes for 1 7/8” Long works for many other applications. attaching 1/2” Wide WE DIDN’T INVENT CLIPS, to side-planers Part# 40620, 2pk Color - yellow Replacement Pads part# 40701 6/pk WE HAVE PERFECTED THEM!
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Unique error-proof design allows anglers to put more fish in the boat! (10 1/4” long, weighs about 3 oz) (7” long, weighs about 1.5 oz) The TX-44 is the first and the only in line planer to pull the large Divers, Lead Core, Water strikes top surface, forcing Wire or Copper Lines and Heavy Weights. The size of the TX-44 makes it harder for Stingray downward. A fish on will An all new type of planer! fish to pull the board under, however it is still easy to retrieve. The Vise Clip comes force the nose upward & Stingray to a T c k h l standard with the TX-44; especially designed for lead core & copper, makes e Co rc the surface. Unpainted or painted . Chu accidental release almost impossible. 2 snaps for each weight included TX-44 is now also available in a Tournament Easy to attach and remove. Size #1 - .7 oz Series which comes with a Lock-Jaw Clip, Great for trolling in congested areas and more effective contour trolling along #40302 #40300 Stainless Steel Rear Pin and E-Z Store for drop offs contour lines, reef edges and weed lines in rivers, lakes or the ocean. black unpainted Effective for all species. Run more lines out the back of the boat by staggering A one-stop shop for planer boards easy tow-arm removal. Part# 60630 Size #2 1.4 oz the Stern Planers. Run any distance from the boat yet maintain desired depth. 7 different styles & ALL MADE IN THE USA
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Store devise easily attaches to the Walleye Board, TX-44 & TX-22 side planers. Slide the tow-arm off for storage or change to another tow-arm & clip then slide back on when you’re ready to fish again. Part# 40519 sold 2 per package 1 left & 1 right 2 Special -2 ckle Co. Sodus, M rch Ta I TX Chu hurchtackle.com www.c LEFT
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Please check with your local tackle shop first, if they don’t carry our products visit us at www.churchtackle.com to view all of our great American made fishing gear, or call us at 269-934-8528 to request a catalog.
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DECEMBER 2017
WEST MICHIGAN 12
11/14/17 5:25 PM
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EXPERT ADVICE
Gifts for Anglers Choosing Sunglasses As A Gift DAVID MANEY, FOWLER’S SUNGLASSES
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hoosing a pair of sunglasses as a gift for someone else can be a tricky endeavor. On the one hand you have your opinion of what you think they will like and then there’s the issue of the fit and their face shape that can make all the difference in the world in their overall happiness with the pair that you’ve selected. Obviously, the best way to ensure your selection is exactly what they’re looking for is to have them help you. Go to your favorite sunglass seller, and let your friend try numerous pairs on. Then, once you know their favorite, the task is easy and foolproof. But if you’re not able to put that together prior to a purchase, the next best alternative is to make sure the company you’re buying the sunglasses from has an honest, no-loophole return policy. Yes, save your receipt. I also recommend including a small note with the sunglasses saying: I hope these fit, and are what you wanted. The store name here said you can exchange them if you like. At Fowler’s, we make sure our customers have an easy and helpful exchange process. The right pair of sunglasses can be a gift that is appreciated for many, many years, and we make giving the perfect gift a little bit easier. For more information contact David Maney at 888-3409021 or www.FowlersSunglasses.com
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800+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com SUPER COUPON
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21 GALLON, 2.5 HP, 125 PSI RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON SAVE Customer Rating VERTICAL OIL-LUBE $40 ALUMINUM RACING JACK AIR COMPRESSOR • 3-1/2 pumps lifts most vehicles • Lifts from 3-1/2" to 14-1/8" SAVE NOW $69 9 9 • Lightweight 34 lbs.
$149
• Air delivery: 5.8 CFM @ 40 PSI, 4.7 CFM @ 90 PSI $ ITEM 69091/61454 62803/63635/67847 shown
169 $
COMPARE TO
HUSKY
219
MODEL: C201H
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
Customer Rating
SAVE 60%
SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC
$29
MODEL: SE-1250
$
49
$
99
PEAK
NOW
99
$5 9
99
$
MODEL: SGY-AIR184
11499
COMPARE TO
7999
KOBALT $
SAVE $114
99
$2
4
8
$ 58
$ 99
MODEL: BG8X10-Y
LIMIT 8 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
99
$17
2599
ITEM 69780 41005 shown
$
1799
SAVE 83%
ITEM 69651/62868 62873/68239 shown
COMPARE TO
BLACK & DECKER
$
59
99
MODEL: GC1801
LIMIT 6 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
GENESIS
$
7717
MODEL: GSP1711
$
SUPER COUPON
SAVE 67%
NOW
$899
REESE $ 99
COMPARE TO
44
ALL POWER
MODEL: 74410
$
99
$229 $25999
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
COMPARE TO
ITEM 62340/62546 63104/96289 shown BLACK & DECKER
$
11992
ITEM 63890
$5 99
Item 42304 shown DRIVE SAE
8
NOW
$9999
99
$89
10999 • 5 hours run-time @ 50% capacity
COMPARE TO
LIMIT 7 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
12999
COMPARE TO SHELTER LOGIC
ITEM 63054 62858 shown
$
20599
MODEL: 23522
SUPER COUPON
60" HARDWOOD WORKBENCH WITH 4 DRAWERS
Customer Rating
NOW
LIFETIME WARRANTY
HUSKY
$
Customer Rating
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
SUPER COUPON
$ 99
METRIC 42305/69044/63171
2806
SUPER COUPON
70%
ITEM 69043/63282/42304
$
MODEL: HG1300
10 FT. x 20 FT. PORTABLE CAR CANOPY
NOW
ITEM 63024 63025 shown $
MODEL: APG3004A
1399
LIMIT 9 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
SUPER COUPON
349
60
MODEL: DW1369
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
NOW
$
Customer Rating
DEWALT
900 MAX. STARTING/ SAVE 700 RUNNING WATTS $106 2 HP (63 CC) 2 CYCLE GAS GENERATOR
COMPARE TO
COMPARE TO $ 99 NIGHT OWL MODEL: HDA10P10BU841PI
COMPARE TO
SUPER COUPON Customer Rating
3999
ITEM 69474/92623 62861/60626 shown
1500 WATT DUAL TEMPERATURE HEAT GUN (572°/1112°)
LIMIT 6 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
SAVE $29
$1 699
1999
COMPARE TO
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
29 PIECE TITANIUM DRILL BIT SET NOW
LIMIT 6 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
$
1,150
MODEL: KRSC33APBO
18 VOLT, 3/8" CORDLESS 8 CHANNEL SURVEILLANCE DVR 9 PIECE FULLY POLISHED DRILL/DRIVER WITH WITH 4 HD CAMERAS AND MOBILE COMBINATION Customer Rating KEYLESS CHUCK SAVE MONITORING CAPABILITIES WRENCH SETS $120 Customer Rating NOW YOUR CHOICE SAVE
SAVE 71%
$
SUPER COUPON
SAVE 60%
SUPER COUPON
Includes one 18V NiCd battery and charger.
$2999
SAVE 61%
SNAP-ON
ITEM 62281/61637 shown
ITEM 61971/61972/98199 shown
MODEL: SM2507LW
$
NOW
COMPARE TO
Customer Rating
SUPER COUPON • Height range: 12-1/2" to 24"
NOW
7" VARIABLE SPEED POLISHER/SANDER
$9
Blade sold separately.
199
SUPER COUPON Customer Rating
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
7 FT. 4" x 9 FT. 6" 1000 LB. CAPACITY ALL PURPOSE WEATHER SWING-BACK RESISTANT TARP TRAILER JACK Customer Rating Cu SAVE NOW
ITEM 69249/69115/69137 69129/69121/877 shown
Customer Rating
MODEL: PKC0TV-R
ITEM 61427/63308 69397/64059/64060 64061/95272 shown
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
65%
SUPER COUPON
99
SUPER COUPON
COMPARE TO
2999
$84
$
LIMIT 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Ames, Bauer, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Union, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/1/18.
Customer Rating
SUPER COUPON
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
BLUE HAWK
$
ANY SINGLE ITEM
SAVE $990
9 $15 99 $17999
3/8" x 50 FT. 10" SLIDING COMPOUND RETRACTABLE MITER SAW • Powerful 15 amp motor AIR HOSE REEL Customer Rating NOW ITEM 69265 99
SAVE $39
Customer Rating
LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/1/18. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
LIMIT 7 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
62344 93897 shown
$
COMPARE TO
Includes AC/DC adapter and 12 volt DC cigarette lighter plug.
SUPER COUPON
Customer Rating
KOBALT
1499
ITEM 61960/61777 shown
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
COMPARE TO
$1199
99
6999
LIFETIME WARRANTY
20% OFF
• 704 lb. capacity • Weighs 120 lbs. NOW
NOW
Customer Rating
NOW
$
9999
ITEM 62728/62583 47770/62570 shown
30", 5 DRAWER 3 WATT LED RECHARGEABLE TOOL CART CORDLESS SPOTLIGHT • 8100 cu. in. of storage
ITEM 60581 60653 shown
COMPARE TO
$
MODEL: T815016L
MODEL: 20210003
SUPER COUPON
2/10/50 AMP, 12 VOLT BATTERY CHARGER/ ENGINE STARTER
SAVE 57%
DURALAST
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
SUPER COUPON
7
HUSKY
COMPARE TO
ANY PURCHASE
$ 97
COMPARE TO
$5 999 $7999
ITEM 68053/62160 62496/62516/69252 60569 shown
WITH
6 PIECE SCREWDRIVER SET
• Magnetic Tips • Ergonomic Handles
Customer Rating
NOW
99
FREE
SUPER COUPON
$
19
97
MODEL: HCW10PCMM
SAVE $285 COMPARE TO
GRIZZLY
9 $1299 Tools sold separately.
$
415
MODEL: H7723
$
15999
ITEM 93454/69054 63395/62603 shown
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 4/1/18*
At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that specified comparison, 2017 which is an item with the same or similar function, COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM I theDECEMBER I NATIONAL 17 was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others *Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 4/1/18. may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
CANGL_NAT3-NAT18.indd 17 hft_coastalangler_1217_M-REG109350.indd 1
11/15/17 1:33 PM 11/8/17 12:58 PM
© 2017 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE FISH HANG OUT. I THINK I’LL DROP IN.
12”
PROGRAMMABLE
HOT KEYS
PRELOADED
BUILT-IN
BLUECHART® G2 + LAKEVUU¨ HD CHIRP SONAR + CLEARVUU¨ + SIDEVU¨
GPSMAP® 1242xsv
CANGL_NAT3-NAT18.indd 18 Coastal Fishing Ad_US-8.125x10.875-CoatalAngler.indd 1 17-MCJT512 GPSMAP 1224xsv
11/15/17 3/8/17 1:33 9:13 PM AM
COMMON CVRS_1217.indd 3
11/15/17 3:37 PM
COMMON CVRS_1217.indd 4
11/15/17 3:37 PM